A friend, Laurie, had invited me to the Imperial Bone Valley Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Society of Polk County (http://www.bonevalley.net/Home_Page.html)... I was lucky enough to have gotten my mom to watch the boys so that I could go see a demonstration on Scrimshaw.

Some of Bill's pieces (detailed pics towards the bottom)

Bill, the Scrimshander, had set up a little display of his work and spoke about how he created the pieces of art. He also went over how to obtain legal ivory and bone. And what you would need to get started :)

Bill with his set up :)

Bill's work is unbelievable... I could not even imagine trying to work with a sharpened sewing needle to carve perfect lines into bone... He has lived in Florida for a few years now, but used to teach Scrimshaw in Kentucky, as well as a couple other states (I should have taken better notes)...

It takes Bill a week or two to create one piece of scrimshaw... I'm not talking about the huge pieces either... that is a pendant... so the time and love that is put into each piece, is crazy. His pieces of work are priceless in my mind... I ended up leaving with an owl and a marlin :) Trust me, had I brought more money, I would have bought a ton more...

Bill sets up every weekend at the Market World - Flea Market off Hwy 92 in Auburndale, FL... I always seem to miss him when I got up there... I will continue to go up to the flea market on the weekend... one day, I am bound to catch him :)

The tools of an artist

This is a craft that has been passed down for 8 generations in Bill's family... traditionally you need a steady hand to be able to do such detailed "carvings"... Bill does not have steady hands... he has a disability which causes his hands to shake... he can not even drink a can of soda without holding it with both hands... and yet, he can create these amazing works of art... To me, he is a true inspiration!

Buck

Bald Eagle

Bald Eagle

Lion

Another Bald Eagle

Buffalo

Wolf

Tiger

Buffalo

Elephant Carving

Skull and Eagle

Stallion

A Horse and her Fowl

If you are free one weekend and want to meet an amazing individual... I highly recommend going to the Auburndale Flea Market to meet Bill :)

Friday, August 2, 2013

I dont know what is going on with my computer and blogger today... but I can not post how I normally would... Im having to use HTML, so hopefully it works properly.
I just wanted to share the test knit that I have been working on... Its called the Snuffaluffa Bag (any guesses why?, lol)... I really do not have much experience with making bags, and most are pretty overwhelming for me... but I am loving this bag.
It starts our flat and they you pick up stitches and go from there... the pattern is written very well and Betty is always available for help... She is on Ravelry as bettybj... here is a link to her pattern: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/snuffaluffa-bag
I'm hoping to get it finished soon... so be on the lookout for the finished product :)

About Me

Mom of twin boys... They are four at the moment and always getting into everything :) Inbetween work, kids, and animals, I try and find time to be creative... Right now I am really loving processing fleece. I have been getting fleece from different farms all over the country (and some overseas)... I then wash everything in my home, dye, and process it into roving, batts, or handspun yarn :)